• Massive lawsuits have been filed against the National Football League by former players who claim the NFL hid evidence linking injuries to permanent brain damage. Because of medical evidence about shortened life spans and brain abnormalities, more and more people who used to scoff at such actions are now asking the question, legitimately, "Do I want my son to play football?"

Johnny Deal, a household name in Camden, has thrown his hat in the ring for Camden City Council. Born and raised in Camden, he grew up on Lake Wateree and helped manage the family business, Deal's Marina. He graduated with honors from Camden High School in 1979. Upon receipt of a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from Winthrop College in 1984, he returned to Camden to become a productive citizen. He and his wife, Annah, made their home here and they raised their two daughters in Camden.

Having opened last week's Sonic Women's City Golf Championship with a first round 1-under par 71 to lead the field in the Columbia event, Elgin's Kelli Murphy left the door open with a second day round of 74.

A funeral service to honor the life of Robbie Hall, Jr. 59, of Bishopville, SC, will be held at 3:00 PM, Tuesday, June 12, 2012 at Lakeshore Drive Church of God, Camden, SC with burial to follow in Cassatt Baptist Church Cemetery. Pastor Jeff Grubbs will officiate. The Family will receive friends from 6:00-8:00 PM, Monday, June 11, 2012 at Kornegay Funeral Home, Camden Chapel. Memorials may be made in Robbie's memory to Lakeshore Drive Church of God, 1201 Lakeshore Drive, Camden, SC 29020.

Tuesday's recall election in Wisconsin, where backers of public unions failed to unseat Gov. Scott Walker after he cut collective bargaining rights, commanded much of the spotlight, but voters in San Jose and San Diego, Cal. also dealt major blows to public unions by voting to cut the pension benefits of public workers in those two cities. Many labor experts see a rising tide of such moves as cities and states are now facing the harsh economic realities of the rich deals they bestowed upon unions for so many years.

CAMDEN – The recent launch of the Kershaw County Housing Authority will focus greater attention on the county's housing needs, according to leaders of a local alliance that has coordinated housing activities since 1989. The Kershaw County Housing Partnership, a joint effort between the charitable, social services, and governmental sectors, has identified and studied a variety of housing challenges and organized a range of community wide responses related to affordability, livability, and homelessness. According to Housing Partnership Coordinator Marie Sheheen, "The formation of our own housing authority is the beginning of what we hope will prove to be an increase ...

Dear Annie: I am an 18-year-old guy, and my parents are splitting up. I don't know the full story, but things are getting somewhat awkward around the house. We try to live normally, but the silence hurts. I'm trying to deal with it and put up a good front until graduation, but it's hard.